Hi, all, and happy Friday.
Yesterday was rough, but Robert Hubbell, as he so often does, put it in excellent perspective in his nightly newsletter. On the Democrats’ possible failures on the infrastructure bills he wrote:
Are we incapable of suffering losses while maintaining faith that we will win in the end? When John Lewis was savagely beaten on the Edmund Pettus Bridge on Bloody Sunday, did he say to himself, “We are defeated. The struggle for civil rights for Black Americans is over”? He did not. He marched again two weeks later—and continued the struggle for the next fifty-five years of his life. His seeming “defeat” on Bloody Sunday counted for something—in defeat, he changed America.
There is a breathtaking privilege in saying “This is too hard. I give up.” So many, over the span of human existence, have had no choice but to fight long and unceasingly, knowing that they wouldn’t live to see most fruits of their labor. How comparatively fragile of me to feel “exhausted” by a week’s Congressional wrangling.
So yes. It’s been a rough week. But what matters is what happens over months and years.
Let’s settle into our seats and remember, this is a life-long drive towards justice. We may “win” this battle; we may lose ignominiously…
Either way, we’ll win in the long run if we keep our feet on the pedal.
P.S. I got a 10/11 on the news quiz, but it was easy this week. Once again, the culture question did me in. James Bond? Really?
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
First, I want the Senator to support the Women’s Health Protection Act (S. 1975), which would guarantee equal access to abortion across the country.
Second, I want a vote on the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act as soon as possible, and I want the Senator to support both bills.
[If Dem add:] Democrats need to get it together to pass the entire Build Back Better agenda AND the smaller Bipartisan Infrastructure Act. We need both! I’m glad the Progressives refused to vote on the smaller bill until they could be guaranteed passage of the bigger one as well. They are fighting for the American people. I hope the Senator will as well. We worked SO HARD to give Democrats a majority. Please use it! Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
First, I want the Congressmember to vote to pass the Protecting Our Democracy Act (H.R. 5314) to prevent future presidential abuses of power. [H/T]
[If Dem add:] Second, and most importantly, Democrats need to get it together to pass the entire Build Back Better agenda AND the smaller Bipartisan Infrastructure Act. We need both! I’m glad the Progressive Caucus refused to vote on the smaller bill until they could be guaranteed passage of the bigger one as well. They are fighting for the American people. [If your MOC is one of them say thanks. If they aren’t add:] I hope the Congressmember will fight for us as well. We worked SO HARD to give Democrats a majority. I will work just as hard to support whoever primaries the Congressmember if they fail to support the full 3.5 trillion dollar bill. Thanks.
Extra Credit
I was at an amazing Zoom meeting last night with the Vote Forward folks. They finally got the data crunched on the 2020 elections, and can say with confidence that their “Big Send” of 17 million letters generated 126,000 votes (!!) in critical states. AMAZING! These letters—and those of us who wrote them—had one of the biggest impacts on turnout of any voter turnout method.
As you may know, Vote Forward is currently trying to get letters to more than a million voters in Virginia.
Please, y’all. Sign up to write even five or 10 between now and the October 16 mail date. We know this works. These letters take MINUTES. Let’s do this.
Get on the Phones! ☎️
I’m running my first Virginia phonebank today, and I’m worried no one will be there. 😳
I’m also newly inspired, having spent a few hours yesterday making a TikTok about the WILD accomplishments of the VA Dems in the two years they’ve had full power. It’s pretty incredible. (I posted it on on IG and twitter, too, if it’s easier for you to watch it there.) They have knocked it out of the park. They deserve to keep—and even expand—their majority.
If you can come make calls the phonebank is from 3-5 PDT today! It’s SO EASY! Yes, I will train you! Sign up here.
Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here!)
[We’re doing something a little different today. Please email President Biden and Vice President Harris via the White House contact form, Speaker Pelosi via the House Speaker contact form, and Majority Leader Schumer via his contact page.] [H/T]
Hello, I’m a constituent from [STATE] writing to oppose the inhumane treatment of Haitian refugees. The U.S. is constitutionally obligated to offer asylum to people fleeing humanitarian disaster, yet our government continues to rain violence and abuse on those turning to us for protection. I am joining community leaders and human rights organizations calling for divesting and defunding DHS, an end to deportations and Title 42, and the enactment of humane, holistic immigration policy. Thanks.